Welcome Message from David Shapiro, MJC’s New Executive Director

Dear Friends and Partners, 
 
With deep pride, humility, and hope, I write to you as the new Executive Director of the Roderick & Solange MacArthur Justice Center. Returning to this extraordinary organization—one I love and respect—is a homecoming and a renewed call to service. 
 
I want to thank MJC’s Board of Directors and Search Committee for the trust placed in me. Their commitment to the organization and their belief in my ability to lead it forward mean a great deal to me. I do not take that confidence lightly, and I will strive to be worthy of the trust they have placed in me each day I serve. 
 
MJC’s work gets me up in the morning and keeps me fighting. At a time when authoritarianism is taking hold throughout the nation and law enforcement abuse has gone from bad to worse, our mission is more urgent than ever. Law enforcement’s vast power to inflict harm and punish dissent make our criminal legal system a critical battleground in the fight to preserve democracy. 
 
At our core, MJC is committed to confronting racism and abuse in law enforcement, incarceration, and punishment. Our work is grounded in place: Illinois, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Washington, D.C. These aren’t just office locations—they are hubs of legal expertise and community connection, and our impact is greater because of that local grounding. 
 
Throughout my career, I’ve seen what it takes to guide an organization through challenge and change—building a culture of philanthropy, making hard decisions, and aligning strategy, operations, and values into a cohesive whole. My commitment is not only to support the incredible work already underway, but to ensure MJC continues to grow stronger, more strategic, and more resilient in the face of evolving challenges. 
 
What gives me hope even in these difficult times is MJC’s unwavering record of rising to meet the moment. MJC’s talented and effective team makes this possible. We’re tenacious, creative, collaborative, and fiercely committed to justice. We are an organization that takes on cases others believe unwinnable—and prevails. Cases that reshape legal doctrine. Cases that defend the rights of people too often marginalized or discarded by the criminal legal system. Our fearlessness, our creativity, and our refusal to bow to injustice have made MJC a bulwark against the abuse of law enforcement power. 
 
I want to acknowledge and thank MJC’s former Executive Directors, Locke Bowman and Judge Amir Ali, whose leadership, vision, and dedication shaped this organization. Their contributions built the strong foundation we stand on today. I am honored to carry their legacy forward. 
 
I rejoin the MacArthur Justice Center with gratitude, resolve, and optimism. I’m honored to work alongside all of you—our staff, partners, allies, and supporters—as we continue to challenge injustice, stand against authoritarianism, and build a more equitable and humane future. 
 
With Gratitude, 

David M. Shapiro 
Executive Director